Christmas decor trends have their own way of reflecting the spirit of the times. Take the 1800s: Amid an indulgent obsession with gold finishes and regal embellishments, the Victorian Christmas tree was often anointed with gilded acorns and holly tipped with crystals, no less. A century later in the 1940s, decorators went tinsel crazy, creating a metallic moment we could never forget. That was followed by kitschy leg lamps, Hallmark ornaments, and, more recently, a decidedly understated elegance that leans into the quiet luxury trend.
Yet, in 2024, homeowners are poised to give their homes a holiday moment that is anything but quiet. At least, that’s what we’ve surmised after speaking with designers, trend forecasters, and retail authorities who are keyed in on what’s trending this year in the holiday decor universe. Whether it’s mirror-ball baubles, a profusion of ribbons, or edgy, neon-colored tableware—it’s clear we’re ready for a season of unrestrained jubilance.
If your visions of sugarplums involve something resembling a Lisa Frank pencil case, consider this your sign to go beyond the orthodox red-and-green scheme. You certainly won’t be alone, according to Lauren Chiu, head of color and material trends at trend forecasting company Stylus, who foresees a return to the jubilant palettes of the ’90s in homes this year.
“We predict an avant-garde approach to holiday styling that brings a youthful energy,” Chiu tells ELLE DECOR, predicting that, come December, we won’t be totally over the ubiquitous Brat green trend that hit our TikTok screens this summer. “Expect decorations in high-impact hues like Brat green, hot pink, and striking black accents to appeal to junior markets wanting to create a lively, party-ready atmosphere at home.” Anthropologie Home’s chief merchandising officer, Katherine Finder, says they’re also seeing an appetite for such hues, in a pastel palette. “From mugs to ornaments and candleholders to glass trees, our customers are loving fun pinks and lavenders that give energy and an unexpected pop.”
This punkish, rebellious take on festive decor will likely inspire bold, nontraditional trees, newfangled combinations, and tongue-in-cheek decorations. Think unceremonious pink-and-lavender tableware, upcycled tinsels, colorful maximalist patterns, playful design references like a Gumby nutcracker, and edgy pairings that will stand in equal weight to the austerity of a traditional scheme. Nonconformists might bring in contemporary finishes like natural stones and rose gold metals for a modern touch. Uncommon components are free game here, such as bird feathers, felted symbols, and anything mirrored or metallic—all combined to create an eye-catching show that is decidedly bespoke and bombastically insubordinate in the best of ways.
Disco balls can be placed anywhere from Christmas tree branches to fireplace mantels.
The 1970s called, they’re bringing disco back. While we all might have assumed the glamorous aesthetic will stay in the shimmering dance floors from whence it came, the interior design world has been drunk on disco fever, it seems, for the past year—and the trend is only gaining steam. Since fall last year, the hashtag #discodecor has amassed 38 million views on TikTok. Naturally, the magical glittering flecks of light created by this retro gem are screaming “put me on a Christmas tree.”
“This holiday season, shoppers are taking the once popular disco trend and elevating it to full on space cadet with what we like to call Chrome-mas,” Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy’s trend expert, tells ELLE DECOR. “This trend is a natural evolution of summer’s playful and rebellious Brat Girl vibe, but with a festive twist. Where Brat Girl Summer brought us bold, unapologetic fun, Chrome-mas ups the ante with sleek, futuristic surfaces that feel fresh and unexpected for the holidays.” In the last three months, Etsy searches for “chrome glasses” were up 40% compared to last year, Isom Johnson found, with searches for “chrome decor” up nearly 4%—something she estimates will only gain steam as Christmas approaches.
Chiu agrees, adding that the retro aesthetic plays into the plethora of playful ornaments hitting the shelves this season. “Mirror-ball baubles and glitter-embellished glass are poised to gain momentum this season, adding excitement while evoking nostalgia.”
What does that look like, exactly? Disco balls can be hung from tree branches, perched overhead as tree toppers, strung along a window pane in garland form, or casually propped at the base of a tree. And don’t get us started on their party potential (after Taylor Swift’s last U.S. “Eras” tour offered a lavender cocktail in a disco ball cup, these retro gems are cropping up everywhere in the form of cups and cocktail picks). Can you have too many mirror-ball baubles, one might ask?
But the disco ball isn’t the only thing that’s rolling. Anything goes, from groovy retro ornaments to colorful LED lights. We’re especially loving that the look segues perfectly into a pumping New Year’s Eve bash, complete with a ball drop.
Bows are clearly having a moment. Perpetuated by TikTok trends that demonstrate a reclaiming of girlhood—like Barbiecore and coquette—the bow seems to be everywhere a ribbon can be tied. To wit: Sia wore an oversize pink bow on her head while performing for Christian Siriano’s 15th-anniversary show; Sandy Liang’s fall 2024 New York Fashion Week show was a total bow fest; not to mention the endless at-home styling videos on TikTok, ranging from bow placement on pants, purses, and, yes, even Apple headphones.
And yet, we haven’t reached the saturation point of bows just yet, Anthropologie is betting. In the brand’s 2024 Holiday House, the annual townhouse takeover that displays their upcoming seasonal collection, bows were the true stars of the show, cascading across fireplace mantels, lording over Christmas trees, even taking center stage on the table display, perched atop a Jell-o dessert. “Ribbons and bows are the Christmas accessory of the year, and we’re totally here for it,” says Finder. The brand is offering everything from billowing satin tree toppers to velvet bow clip-on ornaments.
Nathan Turner decorates Auberge Resorts’ White Barn Inn with many a bow this holiday season.
ELLE DECOR A-List designer Nathan Turner says it has taken little convincing for him to jump aboard the proverbial bow train. “I love anything old-fashioned,” he explains. “I like seeing Christmas in old films and how much more simply they decorated, like tons of ribbons on Christmas trees and bows on wreaths and ribbons tied to candlesticks…simple but charming.”
For those of you looking to bring a touch of traditional simplicity to your home this season by means of the bow, we’re seeing larger-than-life bows that cascade down trees, as well as many dainty bows placed across tree branches. Many come on clips for easy installation, and some are even made of brass for a modern twist. However you tie the string on your festive decor, you can’t go wrong with a bow-na fide ribbon moment.
Maybe it’s because they’ve garnered a cult community of Etsy crafters; maybe it’s because they lean into the artisanal realm; or perhaps it’s just because the people will love felt critter ornaments as innately as they love puppies—felt critter ornaments are exploding online. Whether it’s a curious-looking porcupine, an über-fluffy sheep, or an inexplicably adorable mouse on skis, these specimens—crafted using a needle felting technique—are taking the place of the standard bauble with impressive staying power. “Our felt critters are always a bestseller,” says Beth Smith, Terrain’s managing director, noting that their squirrely little critters nearly sold out last year. “They’re an easy, family-friendly way to add holiday cheer to a mantle, tablescape, or tree.”
For Isom Johnson at Etsy, “shoppers have been seeking a deeper connection to all things nature this holiday season, celebrating the simplicity of the outdoors inside.” Searches for folklore dresses specifically have increased by +19% in the past three months, compared to last year, she found, noting that such interests will surely filter into the decor world this season. “Tapping into escapism in the world of magic and coziness of nature, Etsy’s Mythical Medieval and Nature Reborn trends are the perfect blend for shoppers to achieve the critters and the festive folk aesthetic,” she adds.
Diptyque, the luxury French fragrance house, even hopped on the trend with their cult-favorite advent calendar by collaborating with English artist Lucy Sparrow on an assortment of adorable felt gingerbread, pine cones, candy canes, and Christmas trees.
These little guys play into a broader trend that Chiu calls the “festive folk aesthetic,” made popular by nature lovers, DIY enthusiasts, and craft makers looking to add a touch of warmth and character to their holiday decor. “This cozy look is emerging as a charming trend, inspired by traditional art and ancient woodlands,” she explains. This year, she predicts that “handcrafted decorations like wool felt stockings and hand-painted ceramic baubles will take center stage, while ornamental mushrooms, woodland creatures, and pine cones create a personal, homely feel.” And if you’re feeling really extra, give your new guests a room of their own by means of a tiny built-in door. We can practically hear them skittering about.
Bridgerton’s opulent interiors had us all looking at our own interiors with a quizzical eye.
With the release of the salacious Netflix hit series Bridgerton, on top of its stateside sister series on Max, Gilded Age, came the ushering in of a new buzzword that is making the rounds on social media with interminable staying power: regencycore. And just like that, three centuries after its original debut, women everywhere are ditching their casual jeans for something more befitting of a debutante. And of course this trend has made its way into our interiors, standing poised to be the Christmas trend of the year.
What, dearest reader, does this look like? Ask yourself, WWQCD (what would Queen Charlotte do)? The old-world Regency style is replete with romantic accents, lavish materials, gilded everything, and rich jewel tones. When possible, make it sparkly. “A standout direction is the plush, lavish aesthetic that’s perfect for creating a decadent escape,” Chiu explains. “Think inky blues, deep burgundy and rich chocolate browns paired with brilliant golds that feel frivolous and celebratory.” Homes will embrace these tones, she says, through textural fabrics like velvet and flocked designs, giving holiday decor a tactile quality. “Vintage-inspired elements, like lace and tassels will enhance tablescapes, while over-the-top decorations like jewel-encrusted baubles and liquidlike glassware will add opulence to interiors.”
Balsam Hill’s director of merchandising, Mercedes Fuller, says its collection this year certainly leans into this trend. “Customers are really gravitating toward our mercury glass ornament sets, which we carry in the traditional Christmas colors of red and green, as well as our silver and gold and burnished metals collections,” she explains. “They’re a timeless and beautiful addition to the Regency-themed trend and can complement customers own vintage finds that they show off each year, creating a rich, layered look.” Fuller says she’s also seeing an appetite for varying shades of blue, seen in icy and snowy themes that are paired with metallic neutrals like champagne and gold tones.
“Consumers are channeling their inner castle era with the Mythical Medieval trend, seeking rich fabrics such as velvet and faux fur,” Isom Johnson from Etsy explains. “Inspired by the world of fairytales, jewel tones are taking center stage, from deep sapphire blues to rich ruby reds.”
But opulence isn’t only seen in texture and color. “We’re also seeing people decorating with multiple Christmas trees in the home,” Fuller explains. “It might be smaller trees in every room and decorated with different themes from vintage, family heirloom pieces to whimsical trees in a child’s room to travel themes that might reflect where they or their families have visited.” Proof that you can never have too much joy.
Rachel Silva is the associate digital editor at ELLE DECOR, where she covers all things design, architecture, and lifestyle. She also oversees the publication’s feature article coverage, and is, at any moment, knee-deep in an investigation on everything from the to the on the internet right now. She has more than 12 years of experience in editorial, working as a photo assignment editor at Time and acting as the president of Women in Media in NYC. She went to Columbia Journalism School, and her work has been nominated for awards from ASME, the Society of Publication Designers, and World Press Photo.
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